Experiencing what happened to them would take longer than it actually took...
The trio had no idea where Ashton took them and how. They might have some guesses but no concrete answers so it's just that. Plus, with the strong pull of whatever it was that was calling for them, they were too distracted to care.
When Ashton encouraged them to go and chase after the call, they didn't even hesitate to do it. It didn't matter how tough and indomitable their wills were, there was no way for them to resist this call.
The trio's experiences varied as well...they didn't even head in the same direction, much less had a chance to talk once they went after the call.
They've seen visions of their life, the two reincarnators; Alice and Blake, saw vicissitudes of their past lives merging with their current ones. They watched it play side by side until it eventually concluded.
This made them ponder about their current situation and gave them insights into what they're supposed to do. It also increased their determination and illuminated the path forward that they have to follow.
Mary, on the other hand, saw remnant echoes of her locked potential. She saw a reflection of herself that showed her everything about her that even she didn't know before.
More importantly, these images showed her the light at the end of the tunnel. It gave her insights into her curse and how she should proceed to remove it entirely from herself.
The path wasn't easily given to her entirely. It only showed her hints, but even those were already enough to make her incredibly thankful for this chance.
God knows how much she had suffered because of her curse. The fact that she always had to pay attention to her emotional well-being while also maintaining distance from people just so that she doesn't hurt herself immensely was torturous for her.
She felt even more hopeless after the destruction of City M since along with it, the Mystic Academy also disappeared. Meaning that the chances of her getting rid of her curse turned abysmal.
Now that she received an idea on how to remove her curse entirely, she would of course do everything in her power to be freed from it.
Aside from this, another common feeling the trio shared after the communion was the feeling of clarity and a sense of responsibility.
It was such a bizarre feeling too. They could sense it deep within themselves, that they have a clearer sense of purpose now. Like, they were always meant to do something and it was only now that it became clear to them that they do.
It's unexplainable, but it's a feeling they all shared.
Then, they woke up pretty much at the same time. Finding themselves standing in a middle of a wide clearing.
The air around them was dense and fresh, the breeze was cool and comforting, the sky was bright and the rays of sunlight warmed and comforted their bodies.
They felt light and airy as if there were springs to their steps. It's like an invisible burden was removed from them just now, allowing them to breathe more easily.
"...so, you guys are awake." Ashton's voice sounded within their ears.
They all turned around and saw him sitting on a nearby rock formation, casually flipping the pages of a book.
"Right. What happened by the way? What was that all about? And where is this?" Mary asked, unable to hold in her curiosity anymore.
"Woah, chill." Ashton chuckled, closing the book closely. "I'll explain those and what happens from now on the road. For now, follow me."
He stood up and began walking off to somewhere with the trio following him.
"...who are you?"
This question asked by Alice, caused Mary to pause. She turned around and saw Blake and Alice looking at Ashton suspiciously and on guard. Mary looked back and stared at Ashton's back in confusion.
"What's going on, you two?"
"Mary, that's not the Ash we know. Use your senses carefully." Alice said, which was followed by Mary.
She scanned the man carefully and discovered that, indeed, something was amiss.
This person might look like Ashton for the most part, his aura included, but this one's ultimately different for reasons she couldn't explain.
"Heh...good senses there." The man turned around and said to them: "Well, the cat's out of the bag now, I guess. I am called West Two, I am Ashton's Doppelganger. Nice to meet you all, I guess."
"A doppelganger?" Mary was shocked. So were Alice and Blake.
They have heard about doppelgangers before but this is the first time they've encountered one. Plus, this one was a little different because he's eerily spot-on. If it wasn't for that inexplicable difference between the real one and the doppelganger, the trio might not notice anything different at all.
"Just think of it this way...I am a living puppet being controlled by Ashton. I answer to his will and that's something impossible for me to defy so I'm not an enemy, okay?"
"Where is he anyway? The real one, I mean." Blake asked.
"Back to the real world. He said he had other matters to attend to so he left you three to my care. He gave me some orders and every second counts so can we please be on our way?" West Two asked while smiling wryly.
After that explanation, the trio finally lowered their guard. They first looked at each other, seemingly conversing using their eyes, after a short while, they nodded and gestured West Two to move along.
West Two sighed in relief and began walking again with the trio following closely behind him.
"You said he's back in the real world..." Mary said, "I'm guessing that we are in some sort of a pocket dimension then?"
"Close." West Two replied, "This, is the Blue Marble Grotto Heaven, Ashton's personal realm if you will. Don't ask how he got it, he's not gonna tell you and I'm not allowed to say. Just know that you'll be in regularly from now on."
"A grotto heaven...as a personal belonging? Damn, he's hella rich then!" Blake mumbled to himself but it was heard by both Alice and Mary.
Well, they couldn't really refute what he said anyways. They know what a Grotto Heaven is but this is the first time they've seen and been in one. Ashton owning this grotto heaven meant that everything they see in there was his and that itself represents how wealthy their sponsor was.
"Alright, so can you explain now what just happened to us?" Mary pressed on.
"You communed with the Dragon Vein." West Two revealed flatly, shocking the living daylights out of Alice and Blake.
"A Dragon Vein? What's that?" She asked, wholly unaware of the emotional turmoil her two friends were feeling right now.
"Long story short, it's a blessing of some sort..."
West Two then explained how the Dragon Vein was formed and how the majority of them are now suppressed by the invaders. He fabricated some stories of how Ashton managed to get a hold of this Dragon Vein and how it might be the last of its kind.
He also implied their status of being the Children of Destiny and how they are now responsible to follow their own paths.
Mary listened intently and understood just how great of an opportunity Ashton just casually handed to them. To her personally, the insights for breaking her curse were a favor enough to her to sign her life away.
"Well...in a sense, he kind of owns us, by now. We did sign the contract so..." Mary mumbled to herself.
"Funny you should say that..." West Two chuckled, giving Alice and Blake a bad premonition. But before they could say anything, West Two interrupted them.
"We're here."
West Two and the trio arrived at what looked like a warehouse built in the middle of nowhere. He pushed the doors open and what greeted them was a wide room with some types of equipment readily available.
"This room is...?" Alice was confused.
"Your prison for the next two and half months or so..." West Two softly said.
"Huh!?" The trio all looked alarmingly at West Two.
"Hey, don't glare at me. This wasn't my idea." West Two sweated nervously. "Let me explain first."
"1 day outside is 10 days here, meaning that you all have 70 days or roughly 2 and half months to prepare before the Black Fog eventually shows up in the real world."
"This room is called the Trial By Fire Training Yard. Here, you can practice with increased efficiency. The rate at which your Skill Proficiency or Spell Level increase is doubled here at a minimum but for your sake, Ashton charged Spirit Stone to increase that to 4 times."
"4 times!?" The trio was shocked. They were having a difficult time accepting this.
"Yep. That's why I said every second counts here." West Two stated, "Also there's this..."
He hands them what looks like VR Helmets and said:
"Wear that and enter the Simulation. There are presets in there which will allow you to fight the demons Ashton encountered during his journey in the outside world."
"Do note that the simulation is incredibly life-like, if you die there, you will feel that sensation in real life as well. These helmets are connected to this place so the effect stacks."
"Go on, try it!"
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